Harjit Sajjan Biography

Once Rejected from Military, Harjit Singh Sajjan Ran the Defense Ministry of Canada

Harjit Singh Sajjan is the current Minister of International Development, Canada and Ex. Minister of National Defense, Canada. He immigrated to Canada with his family from India, when was just 5 years old. He belongs to the Sikh religion of India and he is quite rooted in his culture. In the early days, Minister Sajjan’s parents worked really hard today he is grateful to his parents that they provided him with the opportunity to live Canadian life.

Although his origin is from India, Harjit Singh has never shown an ounce of laid back attitude in his love for the current country of his residence, Canada.

His father helps in running the World Sikh Organization (WSO), which is a Sikh advocacy group. Harjit has a pretty wife, Kuljit Sajjan, who is an MD. He has a son and a daughter out of their wedlock.

What do you know about Harjit Sajjan?

Full Name Harjit Singh Sajjan
Date of Birth 6th September 1970
Age 51 Years (as of 2022)
Place of Birth Hoshiarpur, Punjab
Education
  • Sir Charles Tupper Secondary School
  • Walter Moberly Elementary School
Wife/Spouse Dr. Kuljit Kaur Sajjan
Children
  • Son (1): Arjun Sajjan
  • Daughter (1): Jeevut Sajjan
Profession
  • Current Minister of International Development, Canada
  • Ex. Minister of National Defence, Canada
Last Updated March 2022

Harjit Sajjan: Background

Sajjan is a true inspiration to people who believe that they cannot make their footprints in overseas countries. If you have the courage and strength to face the challenges, you can achieve your dreams, irrespective of the boundaries.

Sajjan began his Canadian life about 40 years back, he was just 5 years old when his parents immigrated to Canada from India.

Life was not as easy as it seems for Sajjan in his childhood. He has gone through similar challenges of being accepted as a Sikh in the outside communities. Out of the fear of the bad crowd, Sajjan was baptized as a Sikh when he was a teenager.

Harjit Sajjan: Achievements and Rewards

Sajjan joined the Canadian army in 1989 and was very soon commissioned for his efforts in 1991.

As a token of his hard work, he was honoured to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

He is the first Sikh to control the Canadian Army Reserve.

Due to his religious facial hair, he found it difficult to use the general military gas masks. It was then that he invented his own gas mask and launched it in 1996.

The list of awards and rewards is huge for Sajjan. Here are a few for your reference:

  • Current Minister of International Development, Canada.
  • Ex. Minister of National Defence, Canada
  • Member of Vancouver Police Department for 11 years
  • Order of Military Merit – OMM
  • South-West Asia Service Medal in the Military Division
  • General Campaign Star
  • Meritorious Service Medal (MSM)
  • NATO Service Medal
  • Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal
  • Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and many more.
Harjit Sajjan
[Image Credit: commons.wikimedia.org]

Real Motivation from Harjit Sajjan’s Story

It gives me great pride to read about these brave men who not only make India proud of where they belong to, but also, raise our dreams to a different level.

Harjit Singh Sajjan is an example of persuading your dreams endlessly and effortlessly.

Very few people think about the nation in true terms. He has proved that you live for the country and its people.

Harjit Singh has been through an array of challenges to reach where he is today. He was rejected by the first unit to enter the Canadian Military at the age of 26.

Once rejected, he ran the military by himself. He has a pile of experiences and is also a veteran of three difficult battles.

Sajjan makes his family proud of whom he is, especially his children. Harjit’s spontaneous thought process and his bravery are the two main factors that make him a tough Defense Minister of Canada today. He would certainly not take any political crap to disturb his countrymen.

A few words shared by the proud Brigadier-General, David Fraser for Harjit were;

“He was the best single Canadian intelligence asset in theatre, and his hard work, personal bravery, and dogged determination undoubtedly saved a multitude of Coalition lives. Through his courage and dedication, (then) Major Sajjan has singlehandedly changed the face of intelligence gathering and analysis in Afghanistan.”

Harjit Sajjan – A One Man Army

Being a common girl like me, I knew nothing about the struggles that Harjit Singh has gone through and I was just merely proud of him for being elected as the Defense head of Canada despite an Indian. However, after reading through his background and challenges, my respect for him is doubled.

Harjit touched a different nerve in me for doing something for my country. The politics, scandals, and support of people are just excuses. What is most essential to know is whether YOU wish to do something for your people out there!

What I learnt from this great warrior and inspirational the honourable Harjit Singh Sajjan is that we must not doubt ourselves at first, before removing the doubts in others’ hearts.

According to me, he should be termed as ‘A One Man Army.

2 thoughts on “Once Rejected from Military, Harjit Singh Sajjan Ran the Defense Ministry of Canada”

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